Sefton Councillors to be barred from joining taxpayer funded local government pension scheme

Conservative leader, Terry Jones, delighted that a "waste of public money is to be stopped"

Future councillors will be barred from joining the taxpayer funded local government pension scheme under new reforms.

Following a public consultation, the announcement was made by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on March 11.

Under the ministers new plans, from April, new councillors will not be able to join the scheme and any councillors currently taking part, will cease to receive contributions when they face reelection.

Since 2003 councillors in Sefton, and across England, have been allowed to sign up to a lucrative pensions scheme, allowing them the same pension benefits as local council workers.

Conservative leader, Terry Jones, said that the introduction of councillors into the scheme was more proof of the mismanagement by Labour of taxpayers money.

He added: “It was Blair's way of turning local politics professional at the expense of the tax payer.

“I have stated many times that being a councillor is not a profession and that people take the position to help their communities and not themselves.

“I am delighted that this waste of public money is to be stopped, but disappointed its not gone further – MPs should also be stopped from being allowed to take part.

“We as politicians should be leading from the front and accepting that such ‘perks’ are wrong is a start to winning the trust of the electorate.”

Sefton Council leader, Peter Dowd, said of the reforms: “It is one of the many petty attacks on local government that we have had over the last four years by Commissar Pickles.

“It is very minor in the scheme of tax on local government – there are far more important things like the tax on local services and cuts.”

Lib Dem leader, Iain Brodie-Brown said he always said that savings could be made in the payment of councillors with a reduction in their number.

He added: “Sefton has some of the highest paid cabinet members their allowances should be cut as a priority.”

Minister for DCLG, Brandon Lewis, said he believes that these ‘necessary reforms’ deliver on the government’s pledge to reform public sector pensions and provide a fair deal for public service workers and taxpayers.

The Editor

Andrew Brown

Andrew Brown is the editor of the Southport Visiter, Midweek Visiter, Formby Times, Ormskirk Advertiser, Skelmersdale Advertiser, and the Crosby Herald. Andrew was born and bred in Southport - a true Sandgrounder. Andrew was one of the founders of Southport's Charity Fun Fest.